Mould assembly and method of closing a mould assembly

Abstract

A mold assembly includes a first mold part with a first mold opening and a second mold part with a second mold opening. The first mold part and the second mold part are separate parts. A rotating device rotates the second mold part from a position in which the second mold opening faces upwards to a position in which the second mold opening faces downwards. A moving device moves the first mold part and/or the second mold part relative to each other such that the second mold part is located above the first mold part. A closing device moves the first mold part and the second mold part towards each other with the first and second mold openings facing each other until the first and second mold parts engage. Further, a method of closing a mold assembly is provided.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A mould assembly, comprising:
 a first mould part with a first mould opening to form a first half shell of a wind turbine blade; 
 a second mould part with a second mould opening to form a second half shell of the wind turbine blade, wherein the second mould part is a separate mould part in relation to the first mould part, the first mould part and the second mould part together constitute a negative form of a wind turbine rotor blade; 
 a rotating device for rotating the second mould part from a first position in which the second mould opening faces upwards to a second position in which the second mould opening faces downwards; 
 a crane for moving the second mould part relative to first mould part such that the second mould part is located above the first mould part, wherein the crane is configured for moving the second mould part upwards along a linear path and horizontally along linear path; and 
 a support assembly for supporting the second mould part, the support assembly comprising the rotating device. 
 
     
     
       2. The mould assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second mould part comprises a securing device for securing a composite material in the second mould opening. 
     
     
       3. The mould assembly as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the securing device comprises means for mechanical fastening and/or means for applying vacuum between the composite material and the mould part and/or a cover for covering the composite material. 
     
     
       4. The mould assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the support assembly comprises guiding means for guiding the second mould part when rotated and/or moved. 
     
     
       5. The mould assembly as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first mould part and the second mould part together constitute a negative form of a wind turbine rotor blade with a blade root section, wherein the first and the second mould parts each comprise a blade root mould section; and 
 wherein a support assembly is connected to the blade root mould section of the second mould part. 
 
     
     
       6. The mould assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the rotating device is configured to rotate the second mould part around an axis running through the center of gravity of the second mould part. 
     
     
       7. The mould assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the crane is configured to place the second mould part onto the first mould part such that contact areas of a composite in the second mould part are joined to contact areas of a composite in the first mould part by a linear pathway. 
     
     
       8. The mould assembly as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein contact areas of the composite in the second mould part are joined simultaneously to the contact areas of the composite in the first mould. 
     
     
       9. The mould assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the separate mould parts are not connected via a hinge.